Ridge Vineyards

Ridge Vineyards is a shining example of the wine potential of California's Santa Cruz Mountains. While officially established in 1962, the winery has viticultural roots stretching back to 1885 when Dr. Osea Perrone planted vines on Monte Bello Ridge. The winery remains a beacon in the Santa Cruz Mountains and continues to expand operations, with a second location built in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley.

Ridge Vineyards: Wine Region

Perched at 2,300 feet elevation in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Monte Bello Estate serves as the home of Ridge Vineyards. Here, the unique microclimate and geology provide an ideal setting for viticulture, particularly for the production of their flagship Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine produced from this region has often been called "America's First Growth," as these Bordeaux-style blends have reached international fame. Furthermore, two of the estate's other notable vineyard sites include The Lytton Springs Estate and Geyserville Estate, both of which are located in Sonoma County. These estates produce beautiful zinfandel, providing variety to Ridge Vineyard's offerings. 

Ridge Wine Accolades

Ridge's historical significance in the wine world is undeniable, holding a seat at the table of the famous 1976  Judgement of Paris that helped put California wines on the map. Their 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon gained international acclaim with its fifth-place finish in the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting. Even more impressive, it claimed the top spot in the 30th-anniversary re-tasting of this iconic event, cementing Ridge's status among the world's finest wine producers.

The estate has received further acclaim in its 60+ years of operations, with renowned critics like Robert Parker, Jeb Dunnuck, and more praising the estate. One such quote that sums up their success comes from The Wine Advocate, as stated below:

"Ridge Vineyards’ Monte Bello has maintained a record of consistent brilliance unrivaled in California ever since that inaugural vintage. Indeed, this cuvée has won wide recognition as an American first growth, its dependable longevity and classical balance earning it the esteem of domestic and international collectors alike.”

Ridge Vineyards: Winemaking Philosophy & Wine Style

Central to Ridge's philosophy is a commitment to minimal intervention winemaking and a focus on single-vineyard expressions. This approach, championed by Paul Draper during his influential tenure from 1969 to 2016, allows the inherent qualities of the grapes to shine through. Draper's legacy, including the distinctive "Draper Perfume" characteristic of Ridge wines, continues under current winemaker Eric Baugher.

The team at Ridge Vineyards refers to their methods as "pre-industrial" winemaking, using 19th-century California and Bordeaux winery techniques. Aiming to use as few modern additives and industrial processing as possible, the winemakers ferment wines using native yeasts, resulting in a more complex and interesting wine. Furthermore, operations are 100% organic, trickling down the final packaging of the wines. To reduce carbon footprints, Ridge Vineyards bottle some releases in reusable kegs, ensure that each cork used is fully natural, and even lists out every action and ingredient on their wine bottles. They are as follows:

1. Hand harvested grapes
2. Organically grown grapes
3. Indigenous yeasts
4. Naturally occurring malolactic bacteria
5. Oak from barrel aging
6. Minimum effective SO2
7. Calcium carbonate
8. Water
9. Egg whites
10. Tartaric acids

Ridge Vineyards: Wine Bottlings & Grape Varieties

While Monte Bello stands as the crown jewel, Ridge's portfolio extends far beyond this singular offering. The estate has played a pioneering role in elevating Zinfandel, producing exceptional single-vineyard bottlings such as Geyserville and Lytton Springs. These wines showcase the depth and nuance possible with meticulously cultivated old-vine Zinfandel, along with a bevy of exciting varieties. Ridge has even expanded their offerings to showcase a fascinating range of grape varieties, such as Vermentino, Falanghina, Carignan, and Valdiguié.

Ridge Monte Bello Wine Stuns Critics & Collectors 

Ridge Vineyard wines offer wine enthusiasts the perfect taste of red blends, with the Monte Bello cabernet dominating their offering. The 1971 vintage is undoubtedly the estate's most notable and famous production, though other releases have also caught the attention of the wine world. 1997 was a great year for California wines, and it was no exception for the Ridge Monte Bello vintage. Scored 97 points by Wine Spectator, the wine was heralded for its vibrant and dense offering. Now available in both single bottles and large formats, these work as the perfect additions to any cellar.